Windows 7 might (mostly?) do away with the pesky task of locating Hardware Install CD’s

9. December 2009 by admin.

I’ve had the chance to install Windows 7 several times now, and deal with multiple computers with it. I’m not the worlds expert on it that’s for sure, but..

Windows 7 is proving to be a contender in making installs / adding hardware a lot easier.

I did a 32-bit install dual boot with Windows Vista (Home Premium flavors) …

- found 99% of my hardware and made it JUST WORK.

I installed on another newer PC for a customer, then went on location, and this nice “Driver Software Installation” thing pops up … and offers to get all the drivers for Printer, USB-Serial dongles, and I don’t remember what else. About 6 things.

I just upgraded a Vista 64-bit to Windows 7 64-bit. I had a few snags mainly because Windows 7 upgrade didn’t like existing games that came with an HP PC, and didn’t like the ATI Catalyst software. It also didn’t like the IDE Controller (virtual hardware) that Daemon Tools Light had installed in 64-bit Vista. So I removed what the install/upgrade didn’t like and went ahead with the installation.

On reboot it fixed the ATI software anyway, all on it’s own. Found my Logitech Camera and softwared that all up for me.

I just plugged in and powered up my Canon MP190 scanner - printer hardware - and the “Driver Software Installation” popped up and did that one for me as well.

Sweet!!!!!!!

Too bad there’s quite a bit of legacy stuff out there, in particular in the marine / yachting indusry, that insists on remaining Only Windows XP. Now marine electronics and computer guys are usually cautious on recommending Windows Upgrades anyway, for years they wouldn’t even come off of Windows 2000 and go to XP. They still have boats remaining on XP (now that most have finally taken that plunge.) But getting them onto Windows 7 may take awhile longer. SOME software is finally claiming Vista Compatability or at least on some level. Some are crying that Microsoft is Evil (as usual), some saying Stay on XP, go to Apple Mac, go to Ubuntu Linux. Now I’m all for adventure and I (sort of) like Mac’s and I’ve been a Unix and Linux guy for many many years, but come on … Isn’t it kind of like going with the Mayan prediction of the end of the world in 2012, to give up now and call Windows XP the end of Microsoft Windows? Come on now, the world is changing, hardware is evolving (geeze come on Mac is now running on Intel PC hardware - give me a break) and although there were some issues with Windows Vista - it was a stepping stone for Microsoft on the way to Windows 7. They just might have come quite a bit closer with it. So before you throw in the towel - and go with the Conspiracy Theories, you might just want to give this Puppy a try.

Ummm Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers … here’s my list:

BB+ Dongle (my infrared remote control from HP)

FreeAGent external hard drive

Hammer Morespace external hard drive

QuickCam Pro for Notebooks (yah someone gave it to me)

Sony TV

SCSI CDRom Device

USB Multimedia Cordless Kit

USB2.0-CRW

Canon MP190 series Printer

* Not bad for a report. And Windows 7 found all of this stuff and installed software / drivers for it. Might not be all of the software from the manufacturer. But enough to sure as heck get going in a quite workable fashion.

—

Alan Spicer

http://www.marinetelecom.net and http://www.wifiyacht.net

+1 954-683-3426

communications (at) marinetelecom.net

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